New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-29
THE PROHIBITION PLATFORM.

A political party protesting to be governed
by religious convictions, and embracing many
men who undoubtedly are so governed, ap-
pcals to the people of this State for prohi-
bition of the traffic In liquor. Such party
ought to be sincere and rgidly exact In It's
utterances The seventh resolution OF this
platform declares that =" the determination OF
the manufac tuTe importation and sale OF in
toxicating beverages is the dominant issue be-
fore the citizens Of both State and Nation.
1t is, therefore, the only test OF party feaity
Is this fact That issue certainly does not
dominate in the political action OF 9,9l7,24l
voters of the Republican, Democratic and Green
back parties against 15O,369 voters who at
tempted to make 1t the dominant issue in 1884.
There is no indication that the numbers Of the
third party adherents have so increased that
they can elect their candidate for Secretary
of State this year or their candidate for Presi-
dent next year, and consequently other issues
do and will dominate in State and Nation, by
controlling the votes of those who will elect
the next Secretary and the next President
The meaning of this resolution apparently Is
that the woman suffrage resolution, which
next precedes, and other resolutions designed
to catch labor or greenback votes, are not to
be considered tests of party featy; the CON
yention does not wish to lose the support OF
men who do not favor them, and yet it wants
to gain the favor of voters who care more
about these other matters than about Prohibi-
ton. Is this a sincere or candid position?
In tho ninth resolution. GAS proof Of the
subserviency of the Republican party to the
rum power" the platform cites the passage OF
measures which were bitterly opposed by
liquor sellers. 1t says that the Crosby High
License bill was passed avowedly to porn-
larize beer and wine.' 1t processes to regard
that measure which the entire liquor interest
desperately fought, and the Vedder Tax bill,
the Mandamus bill, the Mooney Excise bill,
the Ives Pool bill and the Cantor Beer bill,
as acts of subserviency to the rum power
Is not this statement known to be untrue by
a very large majority Of the Prohibitionists In
this State? The men of the Syracuse Con-
yenton believe that one mode OF assalling the
liquor traffic is the proper way. Other equally
sincere friends of temperance, who believe
that other modes are equally proper Or more
proper, or are practicable where Prohibition
is not practicable, are here audaciously
cnargcQ WIN DtlUS ouDSCINlthe W eAS '"i'
power. Honest delegates may have voted Tor
this resolution, ignorantly or thoushtlessly,
but the third-party leaders who weighed the
language closely knew certainly that 1t was
not true No PrOhibtionist can honestly say
that he believes DR.. Crosby in error; to say
that he is q tool of the rum power is Il
fragrant injustice to most sincere friends OF
TEMPERANCE and is discreditable in platform
professedy inspired by religious conviction
The third resolution declares that " the eX-
tinction of the liquor traffic can never be
secured through any system which con1ers
lict nse or levies a tax upon it Neither can
its extinction be secured by Prohibition, for
liquor is daily bought and sold as beverage
in Maine and Iowa. All experience teaches
that the entire extinction Of the traffic is not
attainable. What then, Is the duty OF a
temperance man-to enact a prohibition which
cannot be entirely enforced, or restriction
which can be? Sincere men do and must
differ In opinion Of that question, but no homes
Prohibitionst will pretend that all who differ
from him are "subscrvient to the rum power
The fourth resolution declares that he who
votes for a license or tax of the liquor traffic
is as guilty Of crime against the State as
he who sells his vote to corrupt candidate"
Now the delegates who passed this resolution
know that many worthy Christian men voted
for High License, believing it the only
effective restriction possible at that time. Are
these men as guilty as no who sells his
votez?
A large majority of the 100000 voters OF
this State sincerely desire TO fight the liquor
traffic as far and as effectively as they can.
They do not agree about methods, but Is it
not both cruel injustice and hagrant untruth
to charge any of them with subscrvicncy 10
the rum power r Such SANDER will be re-
sented beyond question, by host OF up
right believers in Prohibition, as well as oy
those who seek to restrain the liquor trailic
through High License.